Carbon fiber electrode

Abstract

The invention provides an electrode for use in an electrochemical reactor. The electrode comprising a plurality of carbon fibers in close proximity to one another, each of the fibers being in electrical contact with at least several of the other carbon fibers for transmitting an electrical potential substantially throughout the electrode when the electrode is in use in the reactor.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. An electrochemical reactor comprising: a container having means defining at least one inlet and at least one outlet and including means defining an electrolyte flow path between the inlet and the outlet;   a working electrode positioned in the electrolyte flow path, the electrode being of a plurality of carbon fibers arranged in a group with each fiber being generally in side-by-side relationship with other fibers so that each fiber makes numerous electrical connections by contact with other fibers over the length of the fiber and such that the group of fibers exhibits a significant thickness in all directions measured perpendicularly of each fiber so that in use electrolyte must take a tortuous path through the group of carbon fibers, each of the fibers having a relatively good electrical conductivity and having a very small maximum thickness compared with the length of the fiber, the length being such that the fibers individually exhibit no significant resistance to transverse deflection, and means coupled to at least some of the fibers electrically for establishing an electrical potential substantially throughout the electrode; and   a counter-electrode positioned in the container and spaced from the working electrode.   
     
     
       2. An electrochemical reactor as claimed in claim 1 in which said means defining an electrolyte flow path comprises a non-conductive housing containing the carbon fibers. 
     
     
       3. An electrochemical reactor as claimed in claim 2 in which the housing further includes means creating a compressive load on the carbon fibers whereby the carbon fibers are more positively packed in the housing. 
     
     
       4. An electrochemical reactor as claimed in claim 1 in which the means defining the electrolyte flow path is an electrochemical diaphragm. 
     
     
       5. An electrochemical reactor as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising an electrochemical diaphragm positioned in the container to divide the container into a part containing the working electrode and a second part containing the counter-electrode.